Mac women dominate KCAC tennis awards

Conference champion McPherson College dominated the KCAC women’s tennis awards that were announced Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs boast the KCAC Player of the Year in Emma Sheehan, the Newcomer of the Year in Brooke Vorhees and Coach of the Year in Jeff Benito.

Sheehan, Brooke Vorhees and Nikki Vorhees all made the KCAC’s first team, while Brittany Gourlay was tabbed for the second game.

Sheehan (Fullerton, Calif.) was a unanimous selection to the first team following her perfect KCAC season. The junior transfer is 15-5 on the year in singles and gave up just 18 games to her conference foes while winning 72, while never dropping a set. In doubles, She and Gourlay are 16-2 with the two losses coming were to NCAA D-II Newman University and NAIA No. 12 Westmont College. According to the ITA, Sheehan ranks No. 5 in the Central Region and No. 45 nationally in singles and, along with Gourlay, sits 10th in the Central Region in doubles play.

Playing the No. 3 singles slot all season, Brooke Vorhees (Riverside, Calif.) has accumulated a 16-3 record and has yet to drop a set to a KCAC opponent. The Vorhees sisters are 13-6 in doubles and rank 25th in the nation and third in the Central Region, Brooke Vorhees is No. 14 in the Central Region in singles.

Nikki Vorhees (Riverside, Calif.) has a singles record of 11-8 and is 15-6 in doubles. She has one conference loss all season coming to Ottawa University's No. 2. In the latest ITA poll, she is ranked No. 19 in the Central Region for her singles play.

Gourlay (Riverside, Calif.) has played the No. 4 position most of the season, compiling a 14-5 record and also is 16-3 in doubles play. She is the No. 20 ranked player in the Central Region.Gourlay joins Sheehan for their No. 10 ranking in doubles.

Benito was awarded KCAC Coach of the Year in large part to the turnaround he's done with the women's team. After going 3-24 in his first two seasons as coach, the Lady 'Dogs have pulled a 180 and currently sit at 14-6 on the year and are a perfect 7-0 in league play.

The KCAC Tournament is scheduled for Saturday at Maize South High School. Should the Bulldogs win the title, they would advance to nationals.